Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Everybody has a right to get married.Nobody has the right to marry whoever or
whatever they choose.You can't marry
somebody who doesn't want to marry you back.You can't marry somebody who is only six years old. You can't marry
somebody who is already married to somebody else.You can't marry more than one at a time.You can't marry your pet St. Bernard bitch,
no matter how comely she may be.You
can't marry a unicorn.

The gummint gives specific legal rights to people who marry
according to the gummint's specific marital prescriptions, like rights to
consent, rights to pass on property, tax distinctions, etc.Rights are legal conditions created by
government.Not all rights belong to
everybody. If so-called rights to marry are extended beyond the boundaries of
the specific marital prescriptions, they cease to be rights.They become property.

The problem isn't that gay people are denied rights available to married, straight people. The problem is that special privilege has been granted to married people. Why should marriage, a public confession to strictly private behavior, be given any special privilege at all?

Want more rights for gay people?Consider that at the state level, citizens
vote on issues of rights all the time, while also voting for representative
candidates.There are even referendum
privileges where citizens can propose changes to laws granting or reducing
rights.But at the federal level,
citizens only vote for representative or executive candidates, never issues.We are stuck with the fact that Congress and the
Executive can and will act only as they damn well please.

But at the state level, we get to vote.That's a hint that the right to marry is a
state issue, not a federal issue. Some states permit gay marriages; some don't

The issue of marriage only seems to be of federal concern
when it arises between the states, as when state A permits a couple to marry,
where they would not have been permitted to marry in state B.We've always relied on the theory of full
faith and credit to resolve these matters, and that's why somebody came up with
the cockamamie Defense of Marriage Act.At the federal level!Thereby
putting the federal government and some state governments at odds, and creating
a 10th amendment quandary to be ignored by the buttheads of the right who
didn't like getting outvoted.

I don't see marriage as one of the enumerated powers of the
U.S. Constitution and it sure as hell isn't covered under the interstate
commerce dodge, where butthead progressive types seem to find justification for
most of their pet notions.

So it seems to me that the DOMA is the problem and could be
dumped for unconstitutionality.

What to
do if you are gay, in a committed, loving relationship, and your state of
residence is not one of the states permitting gay marriage?Move to a more congenial state, and marry,
butthead.(I suggest that anybody
contemplating marriage, straight, gay, or just bent a little funny, should take
a look at divorce law while looking at marriage law.)

Thus Walt hath spoken, fully anticipating the Supreme Court
to pay no attention whatsoever to the words of Walt.

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Portland, Oregon, has a permanent tax on everybody, for the arts. Every resident of Portland over age 18, who has income, must pay $35.00. Shut up and send the money in.

The revenue raised by the tax is going to be spent, half, to get more arts teachers in the schools. the other half will be spent for "the arts". I think that means for cronies, cuddle buddies and fellow travelers.

This tax was the result of a vote. Voters approved it. Wonder if the voters would be just as jazzed by the idea of a math tax, to hire more math teachers in the public schools, and the other half -- for math? Hey, where are people most limited, in their ability to appreciate artistic expressions, or in their ability to understand and use basic number relationships? What holds more people back in their prospects for a comfortable life, the inability to understand percentages or the inability to distinguish between crimson and scarlet?

How about this. I'll pay the tax and they won't have any problem with me. I like art and I can afford it.

But there is a whole 'nother issue. If this law is later held to be a head tax and therefore unconstitutional, as legally it ought to be, I'll expect my refund to be paid promptly without giving me any problems. But deep down, I expect that that's 35 dollars I'll never see again.

Because it truly isn't about the constitution or the arts; it's all about who gets to spend my money and what they choose to spend it on

Friday, March 01, 2013

Have you seen the car commercial showing the doofus in the white shirt and necktie trying to teach his kid how to play catch? Doofus has to keep chasing the ball 'cause kid can't get the ball to him -- because the kid is throwing as awkwardly as his father. Dude throws like an African-Indonesian with a Hawaiian birth certificate.

About Me

I believe in the United States Constitution before it was magically transformed into a living document. I believe in foresight, and clear statements of values and objectives. I believe that songs should have lyrics and melody. I believe that shoes should be worn with socks. I believe that sociopaths make the most successful politicians. And I believe that golf is a perfect modern metaphor for -- ah, who the hell do I think I'm kidding. It's just a damn game.